Programs

All events are at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Convention Center unless otherwise noted.

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2009

7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Welcome Breakfast and Conference Kickoff

Location: 12a-c

Kickoff the 2009 Empowerment Conference with a breakfast, served from 7:30 to 8 a.m., followed by the keynote address, “Lincoln’s Ten Critical Tasks of Leadership,” delivered by Professor Al Gini.

Lincoln’s Ten Critical Tasks of Leadership

Beyond the legend and myth, Lincoln was a man of reason, reflection, and deeply held moral values. His election was, in some sense, a political accident, but his leadership turned out to be practical, principled, and geared toward protecting the rights of all those who shared the American experience. Come journey with Professor Gini and take a look behind the myth of Lincoln. Learn about Lincoln as a thinker, writer, and as the unexpected, gifted moral leader.
Keynote: Al Gini, Professor of Business Ethics, Graduate School of Business, Loyola University Chicago.

9:15 – 10:15 a.m.

Feeling Good, Becoming Healthier, Increased Energy and More – At Work and At Home

Location: 20c

How we work in our library has changed substantially in recent years. Our body is built to move and yet hours are spent sitting and standing. When your office environment has been ergonomically arranged as best as it can, what else can you do? THANKFULLY…A LOT! This program will teach you easy and effective ways to improve your sitting, standing, and how to stretch and strengthen your body at the office. We will review exercise for both home and office that include stretching, strengthening, and balance exercises. You deserve to feel better, be healthier, and have increased energy and more.
Speaker: Jill S. Popovich, M.P.T., Physical Therapist & Certified Pilates Instructor

Leadership = Vision + Communication + Empowerment an Overview

Location: 20b

Leadership is a term so often used and so frequently misunderstood. By attending this session, you will learn the meaning of leadership and why it is so very important to the strength of all libraries. More importantly, however, you will learn why communication is an important skill needed to become a strong leader, and how your unique communication style is of value.
Speaker: Alexis H. Sarkisian, Library Marketing Consultant/Adjunct Instructor, Dominican University

The Library, the First Amendment, and You: Understanding, Valuing, and Protecting First Amendment Freedoms

Location: 22b

This presentation will address a myriad of First Amendment-related issues affecting public libraries in the United States. Among the topics addressed include censorship of library collections, the legality of Internet filters on computers housed in public libraries, and the degree to which library patrons’ records are protected from the scrutiny of criminal investigations. Intellectual freedom in public libraries is premised on the notion that we must understand, value, and protect the five freedoms of the First Amendment.
Speaker: Shawn Healy, Resident Scholar, McCormick Freedom Museum

What Does Certification Have to Do With Me? Am I Missing Something?

Location: 21b

Voluntary certification through the Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSCP) will redefine how you think about yourself by expanding your perspective and your skill sets beyond your immediate place in your library. The LSSCP program will address your current and future professional development needs and the service needs of your employers and communities by preparing you to better understand and participate in the broader issues that are affecting your work. This discussion will describe the program’s inspiration, development and progress. Throughout our conversation, you will be encouraged to begin thinking about whether this opportunity should be part of your professional goals.
Speaker: Jenifer Grady, Director, American Library Association-Allied Professional Association

10:30 a.m. – Noon

Leading From Any Position: Opportunities to Contribute to Your Library’s Success

Location: 22b

What is Leadership? A definition and distinction: how informal leadership contributes to a library’s effectiveness. This workshop is an overview of the basic principles, practices and core competencies of effective leadership. Get to know your current capacity for leadership. Join us for a self-assessment of your strengths and areas for development, and to learn practical steps for your leadership development.
Speaker: Maureen Sullivan, Organization Development Consultant, Maureen Sullivan Associates

Leadership = Vision + Communication + Empowerment

Location: 20b

Leadership is a term so often used and so frequently misunderstood. By attending this session, you will learn the meaning of leadership and why it is so very important to the strength of all libraries. More importantly, however, you will learn about your unique communication style, how to develop your vision and how to become empowered to implement your vision. In other words, this session is about you, and how you can develop or fine tune your leadership style.
Speaker: Alexis H. Sarkisian, Library Marketing Consultant/Adjunct Instructor, Dominican University

Leadership for Library Support Staff

Location: 21b

Every member of a library team has the potential to be a leader. This workshop will clarify this distinction between managing and leading. It will identify the skills and behaviors of good leaders and provide practical ideas for library support staff to develop theses qualities.
Speaker: Kevin Dudeney

First and Last Impressions

Location: 20c

You have only one opportunity to make a FIRST impression on a patron. What does your building, signage, furniture placement say. Do placement of signs, furniture, service desk, collection make sense TO THE PATRON? Are you meeting or exceeding expectations? Learn how to look at things with a critical eye, how to look at your building as patrons do, and what is expected by patrons.
Speaker: Tom Rich, Tom Rich Consulting

Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Exhibit No Conflict Time(Lunch Break on Your Own)

1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Leading From Any Position: Opportunities to Contribute to Your Library’s Success

Location: 21b

What is Leadership? A definition and distinction: how informal leadership contributes to a library’s effectiveness. This workshop is an overview of the basic principles, practices and core competencies of effective leadership. Get to know your current capacity for leadership. Join us for a self-assessment of your strengths and areas for development, and to learn practical steps for your leadership development.
Speaker: Maureen Sullivan, Organization Development Consultant, Maureen Sullivan Associates

Leadership = Vision + Communication + Empowerment

Location: 20b

Leadership is a term so often used and so frequently misunderstood. By attending this session, you will learn the meaning of leadership and why it is so very important to the strength of all libraries. More importantly, however, you will learn about your unique communication style, how to develop your vision and how to become empowered to implement your vision. In other words, this session is about you, and how you can develop or fine tune your leadership style.
Speaker: Alexis H. Sarkisian, Library Marketing Consultant/Adjunct Instructor, Dominican University

What Color is Your Personality?

Location: 22b

Do you have trouble getting along with some people? Do you wonder how your child, boss, partner, or co-worker can respond so differently to things than you? What does research tell us about personality differences? This workshop looks at different personality styles and helps you understand yourself and others in a fun way. Come learn how to better interact, understand and support those with whom you work and live. Seating is limited. Contact Kimberly Sanders at ksanders@ala.org to reserve your place today.

Community Outreach

Location: 20c

The Web is a big place, and library users can be found almost anywhere. In this presentation, we’ll talk about ways to develop an active online service model, using a variety of Web tools to identify patron needs and build new connections. We’ll talk about ways for staff at all levels to participate, and give your library some online personality. Your patrons are out there, even if they don’t know it yet.
Speaker: Toby Greenwalt, Virtual Services Coordinator, Skokie Public Library

SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2009

9:00 a.m. – Noon

Management: When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Location: 12 a-c

We’ll have fun together as we cover the what-if’s, the how’s that happen, and the why-me’s of daily life in library management. This workshop will inspire you to go back to your library fired-up about management and the impact you have on your staff. This engaging and interactive program will explore, in-depth, the concepts of accountability, communication, empowerment, staff development, and influence.
Speaker: Gail Johnson, President/CEO; and Pam Parr, Senior Consultant, Face to Face Communications

12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Lunch with the “Famous First Ladies”

Location: 12 a-c

We American have always been fascinated by the White House—a symbol of power and prestige of our country. We know so much about the Presidents and the families who live there from our history books, and more recently movies and television. Bust most of what we read or see is about the public personas of those people. Join Jenny Riddle as she dramatizes, in character, the personal lives of four remarkable First Ladies: Mary Todd Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy and Hilary Clinton. (Hilary Clinton even sings a song!)

Jenny Riddle is an accomplished actress, singer, and writer. She has created a wide range of performances from book dramatizations to musical revues. Ms. Riddle’s performances arise from her love of literature, theatre, and music and appeal to a variety of audiences. She received her M.A. in English from DePaul University and her undergraduate degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana. She has taught English, speech, and drama at the high school and college levels and has been active in music and theatre since she was a young girl.